he　kine；　wielded　a　staff　of　glowing　orichalcum　（8）　as　she　followed。　　These　kine　the　heroes　saw　feeding　by　the　river's　stream；　over　the　plain　and　the　water…meadow；　not　one　of　them　was　dark　in　hue　but　all　were　white　as　milk　and　glorying　in　their　horns　of　gold。　　So　they　passed　them　by　in　the　day…time；　and　when　night　came　on　they　were　cleaving　a　great　sea…gulf；　rejoicing；　until　again　early　rising　dawn　threw　light　upon　their　course。
  （ll。　982…1013）　　Fronting　the　Ionian　gulf　there　lies　an　island　in　the　Ceraunian　sea；　rich　in　soil；　with　a　harbour　on　both　sides；　beneath　which　lies　the　sickle；　as　legend　saithgrant　me　grace；　O　Muses；　not　willingly　do　I　tell　this　tale　of　olden　days　　wherewith　Cronos　pitilessly　mutilated　his　father；　but　others　call　it　the　reaping…hook　of　Demeter；　goddess　of　the　nether　world。　　For　Demeter　once　dwelt　in　that　island；　and　taught　the　Titans　to　reap　the　ears　of　corn；　all　for　the　love　of　Macris。　　Whence　it　is　called　Drepane；　（9）　the　sacred　nurse　of　the　Phaeacians；　and　thus　the　Phaeacians　themselves　are　by　birth　of　the　blood　of　Uranus。　　To　them　came　Argo；　held　fast　by　many　toils；　borne　by　the　breezes　from　the　Thrinacian　sea；　and　Alcinous　and　his　people　with　kindly　sacrifice　gladly　welcomed　their　coming；　and　over　them　all　the　city　made　merry；　thou　wouldst　say　they　were　rejoicing　over　their　own　sons。　　And　the　heroes　themselves　strode　in　gladness　through　the　throng；　even　as　though　they　had　set　foot　in　the　heart　of　Haemonia；　but　soon　were　they　to　arm　and　raise　the　battle…cry；　so　near　to　them　appeared　a　boundless　host　of　Colchians；　who　had　passed　through　the　mouth　of　Pontus　and　between　the　Cyanean　rocks　in　search　of　the　chieftains。　　They　desired　forthwith　to　carry　off　Medea　to　her　father's　house　apart　from　the　rest；　or　else　they　threatened　with　fierce　cruelty　to　raise　the　dread　war…cry　both　then　and　thereafter　on　the　coming　of　Aeetes。　　But　lordly　Alcinous　checked　them　amid　their　eagerness　for　war。　　For　he　longed　to　allay　the　lawless　strife　between　both　sides　without　the　clash　of　battle。　　And　the　maiden　in　deadly　fear　often　implored　the　comrades　of　Aeson's　son；　and　often　with　her　hands　touched　the　knees　of　Arete；　the　bride　of　Aleinous：
  （ll。　1014…1028）　　〃I　beseech　thee；　O　queen；　be　gracious　and　deliver　me　not　to　the　Colchians　to　be　borne　to　my　father；　if　thou　thyself　too　art　one　of　the　race　of　mortals；　whose　heart　rushes　swiftly　to　ruin　from　light　transgressions。　　For　my　firm　sense　forsook　meit　was　not　for　wantonness。　　Be　witness　the　sacred　light　of　Helios；　be　witness　the　rites　of　the　maiden　that　wanders　by　night；　daughter　of　Perses。　　Not　willingly　did　I　haste　from　my　home　with　men　of　an　alien　race；　but　a　horrible　fear　wrought　on　me　to　bethink　me　of　flight　when　I　sinned；　other　device　was　there　none。　　Still　my　maiden's　girdle　remains；　as　in　the　halls　of　my　father；　unstained；　untouched。　　Pity　me；　lady；　and　turn　thy　lord　to　mercy；　and　may　the　immortals　grant　thee　a　perfect　life；　and　joy；　and　children；　and　the　glory　of　a　city　unravaged！〃
  （ll。　1029…1030）　　Thus　did　she　implore　Arete；　shedding　tears；　and　thus　each　of　the　chieftains　in　turn：
  （ll。　1031…1052）　　〃On　your　account；　ye　men　of　peerless　might；　and　on　account　of　my　toils　in　your　ventures　am　I　sorely　afflicted；　even　I；　by　whose　help　ye　yoked　the　bulls；　and　reaped　the　deadly　harvest　of　the　earthborn　men；　even　I；　through　whom　on　your　homeward　path　ye　shall　bear　to　Haemonia　the　golden　fleece。　　Lo；　here　am　I；　who　have　lost　my　country　and　my　parents；　who　have　lost　my　home　and　all　the　delights　of　life；　to　you　have　I　restored　your　country　and　your　homes；　with　eyes　of　gladness　ye　will　see　again　your　parents；　but　from　me　a　heavy…handed　god　has　raft　all　joy；　and　with　strangers　I　wander；　an　accursed　thing。　　Fear　your　covenant　and　your　oaths；　fear　the　Fury　that　avenges　suppliants　and　the　retribution　of　heaven；　if　I　fall　into　Aeetes'　hands　and　am　slain　with　grievous　outrage。　　To　no　shrines；　no　tower　of　defence；　no　other　refuge　do　I　pay　heed；　but　only　to　you。　　Hard　and　pitiless　in　your　cruelty！　　No　reverence　have　ye　for　me　in　your　heart　though　ye　see　me　helpless；　stretching　my　hands　towards　the　knees　of　a　stranger　queen；　yet；　when　ye　longed　to　seize　the　fleece；　ye　would　have　met　all　the　Colchians　face　to　thee　and　haughty　Aeetes　himself；　but　now　ye　have　forgotten　your　courage；　now　that　they　are　all　alone　and　cut　off。〃
  （ll。　1053…1067）　　Thus　she　spake；　beseeching；　and　to　whomsoever　she　bowed　in　prayer；　that　man　tried　to　give　her　heart　and　to　check　her　anguish。　　And　in　their　hands　they　shook　their　sharp　pointed　spears；　and　drew　the　swords　from　their　sheaths；　and　they　swore　they　would　not　hold　back　from　giving　succour；　if　she　should　meet　with　an　unrighteous　judgement。　　And　the　host　were　all　wearied　and　Night　came　on　them；　Night　that　puts　to　rest　the　works　of　men；　and　lulled　all　the　earth　to　sleep；　but　to　the　maid　no　sleep　brought　rest；　but　in　her　bosom　her　heart　was　wrung　with　anguish。　　Even　as　when　a　toiling　woman　turns　her　spindle　through　the　night；　and　round　her　moan　her　orphan　children；　for　she　is　a　widow；　and　down　her　cheeks　fall　the　tears；　as　she　bethinks　her　how　dreary　a　lot　hath　seized　her；　so　Medea's　cheeks　were　wet；　and　her　heart　within　her　was　in　agony；　pierced　with　sharp　pain。
  （ll。　1068…1072）　　Now　within　the　palace　in　the　city；　as　aforetime；　lay　lordly　Alcinous　and　Arete；　the　revered　wife　of　Alcinous；　and　on　their　couch　through　the　night　they　were　devising　plans　about　the　maiden；　and　him；　as　her　wedded　husband；　the　wife　addressed　with　loving　words：
  （ll。　1073…1095）　　〃Yea；　my　friend；　come；　save　the　woe…stricken　maid　from　the　Colchians　and　show　grace　to　the　Minyae。　　Argos　is　near　our　isle　and　the　men　of　Haemonia；　but　Aeetes　dwells　not　near；　nor　do　we　know　of　Aeetes　one　whit：　we　hear　but　his　name；　but　this　maiden　of　dread　suffering　hath　broken　my　heart　by　her　prayers。　　O　king；　give　her　not　up　to　the　Colchians　to　be　borne　back　to　her　father's　home。　　She　was　distraught　when　first　she　gave　him　the　drugs　to　charm　the　oxen；　and　next；　to　cure　one　ill　by　another；　as　in　our　sinning　we　do　often；　she　fled　from　her　haughty　sire's　heavy　wrath。　　But　Jason；　as　I　hear；　is　bound　to　her　by　mighty　oaths　that　he　will　make　her　his　wedded　wife　within　his　halls。　　Wherefore；　my　friend；　make　not；　of　thy　will；　Aeson's　son　to　be　forsworn；　nor　let　the　father；　if　thou　canst　help；　work　with　angry　heart　some　intolerable　mischief　on　his　child。　　For　fathers　are　all　too　jealous　against　their　children；　what　wrong　did　Nycteus　devise　against　Antiope；　fair　of　face！　　What　woes　did　Danae　endure　on　the　wide　sea　through　her　sire's　mad　rage！　　Of　late；　and　not　far　away；　Echetus　in　wanton　cruelty　thrust　spikes　of　bronze　in　his　daughter's　eyes；　and　by　a　grievous　fate　is　she　wasting　away；　grinding　grains　of　bronze　in　a　dungeon's　gloom。〃
  （ll。　1096…1097）　　Thus　she　spake；　beseeching；　and　by　his　wife's　words　his　heart　was　softened；　and　thus　he　spake：
  （ll。　1098…1109）　　〃Arete；　with　arms　I　could　drive　forth　the　Colchians；　showing　grace　to　the　heroes　for　the　maiden's　sake。　　But　I　fear　to　set　at　nought　the　righteous　judgment　of　Zeus。　　Nor　is　it　well　to　take　no　thought　of　Aeetes；　as　thou　sayest：　for　none　is　more　lordly　than　Aeetes。　　And；　if　he　willed；　he　might　bring　war　upon　Hellas；　though　he　dwell　afar。　　Wherefore　it　is　right　for　me　to　deliver　the　judgement　that　in　all　men's　eyes　shall　be　best；　and　I　will　not　hide　it　from　thee。　　If　she　be　yet　a　maid　I　decree　that　they　carry　her　back　to　her　father；　but　if　she　shares　a　husband's　bed；　I　will　not　separate　her　from　her　lord；　nor；　if　she　bear　a　child　beneath　her　breast；　will　I　give　it　up　to　an　enemy。〃
  （ll。　1110…1120）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　at　once　sleep　laid　him　to　rest。　　And　she　stored　up　in　her　heart　the　word　of　wisdom；　and　straightway　rose　from　her　couch　and　went　through　the　palace；　and　her　handmaids　came　hasting　together；　eagerly　tending　their　mistress。　　But　quietly　she　summoned　her　herald　and　addressed　him；　in　her　prudence　urging　Aeson's　son　to　wed　the　maiden；　and　not　to　implore　Alcinous；　for　he　himself；　she　said；　will　decree　to　the　Colchians　that　if　she　is　still　a　maid　he　will　deliver　her　up　to　be　borne　to　her　father's　house；　but　that　if　she　shares　a　husband's　bed　he　will　not　sever　her　from　wedded　love。
  （ll。　1121…1127）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　quickly　from　the　hall　his　feet　bore　him；　that　he　might　declare　to　Jason　the　fair…omened　speech　of　Arete　and　the　counsel　of　godfearing　Alcinous。　　And　he　found　the　heroes　watching　in　full　armour　in　the　haven　of　Hyllus；　near　the　city；　and　out　he　spake　the　whole　message；　and　each　hero's　heart　rejoiced；　for　the　word　that　he　spake　was　welcome。
  （ll。　1128…1169）　　And　straightway　they　mingled　a　bowl　to　the　blessed　ones；　as　is　right；　and　reverently　led　sheep　to　the　altar；　and　for　that　very　night　prepared　for　the　maiden　the　bridal　couch　in　the　sacred　cave；　where　once　dwelt　Macris；　the　daughter　of　Aristaeus；　lord　of　honey；　who　discovered　the　works　of　bees　and　the　fatness　of　the　olive；　the　fruit　of　labour。　　She　it　was　that　first　received　in　her　bosom　the　Nysean　son　of　Zeus　in　Abantian　Euboea；　and　with　honey　moistened　his　parched　lips　when　Hermes　bore　him　out　of　the　flame。　　And　Hera　beheld　it；　and　in　wrath　drove　her　from　the　whole　island。　　And　she　accordingly　came　to　dwell　far　off；　in　the　sacred　cave　of　the　Phaeacians；　and　granted　boundless　wealt